It ain't going away...

A recent Stamford Advocate article discusses the medical community’s recent acceptance of alternative medicine.

Just a decade ago, many Americans had never heard of integrative medicine, also known as alternative or complementary medicine, yet in a short time, holistic treatments have affected the way hospitals care for their patients.

It’s exciting to me to think about how quickly alternative medicine has gained popularity. Just a few years ago, many people hadn’t heard of it and thought of it as, more less, a joke. Its popularity corresponds with the rising cost of health care—people are obviously looking for an alternative to expensive medical treatments. The medical community, who has consistently rejected alternative treatments, has now become aware of the growth of the trend, and is integrating ways for alternative practices to “complement” traditional medicine.

The article presents statistics that reflect the acceptance of alternative practices.

A November 2007 survey by the American Hospital Association found that 37 percent of responding hospitals offered one or more integrative therapies for patients or staff.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the percentage of medical schools offering a required course in integrative medicine increased from 26 percent in 2001 to 91 percent for the graduating class of 2009.

Brodsky, the doctor interviewed in the article, says the success of his center, Greenwich Hospital's Center for Integrative Medicine, “lies in the doctors' and nurses' focus on more than just treatments.”

And because the center is operated in conjunction with the hospital, its treatments are intended to complement any traditional medicine patients may be undergoing. Patients are also encouraged to be open with their physicians about holistic care, since the hospital has come to accept this type of care as legitimate treatment.

Stamford Hospital represents a new wave of medicine or the future of medicine. Soon many more hospitals will offer alternative treatments as the demand for such practices increases across the country.

It’s all in the numbers. If you’re not a fan of alternative medicine, it’s too bad. Get over it because it’s not going anywhere. It’s only going to spread—like an epidemic.

For patients' sake

The news site Timesunion.com published an article today discussing the fact that many patients are weary of telling their doctors about their use of alternative medicine.

While two-thirds of Americans older than age 50 use alternative medicine, most of them keep it to themselves, according to a survey conducted by NIH's Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the AARP. The survey found that patients didn't tell their doctors about the alternative medicines they were using because the doctor never asked, they didn't know they should or they were embarrassed.

Alyssa Cotler, a public health adviser with the NIH, told the Times Union, "They were afraid their doctors were going to dismiss the use of (complementary and alternative medicines) so they didn't bring it up."

The medical community has been so critical of alternative medicine that people, feeling estranged and embarrassed, are left with no choice but to be dishonest with their health care providers about other treatments they may be seeking out. As a result of this, at least, the medical community is beginning to embrace alternative treatments, in hopes of encouraging an open and honest relationship between patients and physicians.

The article also discusses how as alternative therapies grow in popularity in the United States, medical curriculums are changing to provide an opportunity for new doctors to learn about such treatments. “Medical students get a taste of alternative therapies in several classes and learn how to ask patients about nontraditional medicines in their clinical skills class.”

The medical community and many individuals make the mistake of believing that alternative medicine is a new trend. Several of these therapies have been practiced for centuries. Dudley Moon, a biology professor at the Albany College of Pharmacy, told the Times Union, “The idea is to give the pharmacy students broad exposure to what we would call alternative medicine, though in other parts of the world they would be called routine."

Which is why it is so essential for physicians to be aware of any alternative treatments patients may be undergoing. The article discusses government officials’ concerns about potential interactions between drugs that doctors prescribe and natural supplements a patient may be taking.

The medical community encourages an open and honest relationship between patients and health care providers by accepting alternative medicine as a reasonable treatment, even if it means some doctors will have to bite their tongues. Accepting these therapies, or pretending to for the time being, will create a better awareness and understanding of how alternative medicine affects traditional medicine, which could perhaps lead to the advancement of both types of practices.